HOUSTON — As Mark Teixeira walked to the batter’s box for the first time Tuesday, he did something he had never done before. He reminded himself to take aggressive swings, to not succumb to protecting his surgically repaired right wrist.

For one of the sport’s most prolific sluggers, it was a strange necessity.

"I’ve never had to say that in my career," Teixeira said. "I’ve always been whatever the thought process is in that at-bat."

The pep talk worked. After compiling three hits in 35 spring training at-bats, Teixeira recorded two hits Tuesday, providing one of the few positives in the Yankees’ 6-2 loss to the Astros.

Teixeira was encouraged with his performance, but not because of the results; they come and go he, said. The swings themselves reassured Teixeira he can drive the ball. Teixeira calls them his "A swings," which he admitted he did not use until the final week of spring training due to a subconscious roadblock.

He pointed to a couple swings in particular that stood out to the first baseman — a fly out to right field in the second inning that got caught in the wind and a line-drive down the line in the fourth inning that went foul before he walked.

"I told you the last week I was encouraged when I saw him let go," manager Joe Girardi said. "He was letting the bat go, swinging. I don’t mean throwing it either. I think it carried over into yesterday. He’s the patient hitter that we’ve seen in the past. He drove the ball and we saw a lot of good things."

Teixeira, whom the Yankees owe $67.5 million over the next three seasons, concedes his right wrist will never be the same after the procedure to repair a torn sheath tendon last June. "I’m never going to be the way I was out of the womb," Teixeira joked.

Teixeira, who turns 34 April 11, said his wrist will have a variation tightness, even soreness, for the rest of his career.

The challenge will be not allowing the wrist to impair his approach.

"Once I get to the point where it’s not feeling tight or a little sore or it’s loosened up, that will all work itself out," Teixeira said. "I think the rhythm of the season, too. That’s important for a lot of reasons. Once you get into that rhythm of the everyday routine, you really don’t think about the other things. You just think about showing up to the ballpark and winning the game."

RYAN STILL LIMITED

Girardi said backup shortstop Brendan Ryan has yet to resume baseball activities. Ryan was officially placed on the 15-day disabled list with what the Yankees called a "cervical spine nerve injury."

Though he is eligible to come of the disabled list Sunday, Ryan, who had just nine spring training plate appearances, could miss the entire month of April.

BETANCES IMPRESSES

Dellin Betances touched 99 mph with his fastball in his perfect inning of relief Tuesday, displaying the potential to claim a late-inning role at some point this season.

Betance, a 6-foot-8 right-hander, said adrenaline helped pump his fastball up a couple notches, but he was clocked in the upper-90s last season.

"He came in, threw strike after strike after strike and got ahead of hitters, finished them with his curveball," Girardi said. "It was really good to see."

CERVELLI A PINCH-HITTING OPTION

Without a veteran right-handed bat on the bench, Girardi said he foresees using back-up catcher Francisco Cervelli as a pinch-hitter in late-inning spots. The only other right-handed option at the manager’s disposal is the switch-hitting Yangervis Solarte.

Dean Anna is the Yankees’ emergency catcher if the scenario ever plays out.